South Central Kansas Experiment Field

Faculty	William F. Heer, Agronomist-in-Charge
Location	Hutchinson, Kansas
Events
Research emphasis	The South Central Kansas Experiment Field was established in 1951 on the U.S. Coast Guard Radio Receiving Station located southwest of Hutchinson. The first research data were collected with the harvest of 1952. Prior to this, data for the South Central area of Kansas were collected at three locations (Kingman, Wichita, and Hutchinson). The current South Central Field location is approximately 3/4 miles south and east of the old Hutchinson location on the Walter Peirce farm. Research at the South Central Kansas Experiment Field is designed to help the area's agriculture develop to its full agronomic potential using sound environmental practices. The principal objective is achieved through investigations of fertilizer use, weed and insect control, tillage methods, seeding techniques, cover crop and crop rotation, variety improvement, and selection of hybrids and varieties adapted to the area. Experiments deal with problems related to production of wheat, grain and forage sorghum, oats, alfalfa, com, soybeans, rapeseed/canola, and sunflower and soil tilth. Breeder and foundation seed of wheat and oat varieties are produced to improve seed stocks available to farmers. A large portion of the research program at the field is dedicated to wheat breeding and germplasm development.
Soils description	The soil survey for the South Central Field has approximately 120 acres classified as nearly level to gently sloping Clark/Ost loams with calcareous subsoils. This soil requires adequate inputs of phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers for maximum crop production. The Clark soils are well drained and have good water-holding capacity. They are more calcareous at the surface and less clayey in the subsurface than the Ost. The Ost soils are shallower than the Clark, having an average surface layer of only 9 inches. Both soils are excellent for wheat and grain sorghum production. Large areas of these soils are found in southwest and southeast Reno County and in western Kingman County. The Clark soils are associated with the Ladysmith and Kaski soils common in Harvey County but are less clayey and contain more calcium carbonate. Approximately 30 acres of Ost Natrustolls Complex, with associated alkali slick spots, occur on the north edge of the Field. This soil requires special management and timely tillage, because it puddles when wet and forms a hard crust when dry. A 10-acre depression on the south edge of the Field is a Tabler-Natrustolls Complex (Tabler slick spot complex). This area is unsuited for cultivated crop production and has been seeded to switchgrass. Small pockets of the Tabler-Natrustolls are found throughout the Field

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